Crop Circles

[RJM Corbet]

Someone sent the Theological Engineering Exam to me by e-mail ages ago, and I laughed myself silly. I especially love the bit about Stan being massless and frictionless.

I have one big problem with it though, and that's how I know it's not a real exam, you can't fool me, you know. Everyone knows that exams nowadays are always multiple choice answers ...

 

[J-WO]

Thanks Metryq- that exams hilarious. And I always assume a spherical Jesus.

 

[Ursa major]

Thanks Metryq- that exams hilarious. And I always assume a spherical Jesus.

Does this mean that there could be an even deeper allegorical meaning to the (original) TV series, The Prisoner?

 

[Metryq]

Does this mean that there could be an even deeper allegorical meaning to the (original) TV series, The Prisoner?

I've never seen this series, but it's there in the library, and I know it is popular with many. Now I'll have to go sign it out and watch it.

Do these spheres stomp grass, or is that all a bunch of crop? And now the thread comes full circle...

 

[Ursa major]

The spheres are a very important part of the series. (And they "walk" on water....)

 

[Harpo]

Here’s a new one, with a big mistake.

 

[mosaix]

You can see the line where the guy ran through it shouting 'damn, damn, damn' and tearing his hair out.

 

[mosaix]

Sorry mosaix, but does that mean you only believe what has been been proved by experiment, or by deduction?

Those are two different things?

The greatest scientists on earth 'believe' (by deduction) that 96% of the universe is dark matter/energy which would account for the extra gravity in the universe, so they can't see it or measure it in any way except that something must be there, to make the equations balance.

And yet the 'physics model' rejects 'string theory' as a 'philosophy' because it can't be proved by physical experiment, simply because the apparatus to measure it does not exist, although the Large Hadron Collider might help string-theory gain some credibility with 'real' physics.

So even physics is not that different from being a religion, when you think about it.

Biology and chemistry can work by direct experiment, but even biology has to make assumptions about 'life'.

So you can't always demand direct physical proof of everything ...

Looks like I missed this one - from 11 years back! I've just stumbled across it whilst re-reading the thread. In addition @Dave's and @Anthony G Williams' more than adequate responses to the question my own is that I'm not a scientist but, to get by in the world I have to rely on other people's knowledge in areas I know nothing about - including science. I have to make value judgments. With regards to science, I do this by listening to respected scientists and reading scientific publications. Here the key is peer review.

In some other areas I am forced to use my common sense and I apply this to the subject of this thread - crop circles. I can only repeat what I said back in 2011:

Let's just weigh up the two arguments:

On the one hand, we have humans. They live here, they aren't necessarily drunk, some of them have admitted doing this in the past and even provided demonstrations of how they did it. Some of them have a history of just doing things for fun and because they enjoy playing pranks on other people. None of the designs that have been made are beyond the skill of one, two or more people to do.

On the other hand, we have aliens. They have come here from light-years away. They have identified the Earth as habitable from a vast distance. Despite being technologically advanced, they have chosen to communicate with us by destroying crops in a pattern fashion and they have travelled billions of miles to do this.

You judge.

 

[Ursa major]

On the other hand, we have aliens....

One way of thinking about it is that: explaining why they're here, what they can do, and all sorts of other things, takes far too much time and is far too much bother when they're only here for a mow....


*gets environment suit*

 

[Alex The G and T]

The old link to the exam came up 404.

It's still hilarious, though. http://danny.oz.au/danny/humour/theology-exam

 

[BAYLOR]

Here’s a new one, with a big mistake.

View attachment 91252

He flunked Geometry class.

 

[hitmouse]

Mods: can you move this thread to the Games section?

 

[Brian G Turner]

Why the Games section?? Anyway, this is an old thread, no need to create unnecessary work for the mods.

 

[RJM Corbet]

Looks like I missed this one - from 11 years back! I've just stumbled across it whilst re-reading the thread. In addition @Dave's and @Anthony G Williams' more than adequate responses to the question my own is that I'm not a scientist but, to get by in the world I have to rely on other people's knowledge in areas I know nothing about - including science. I have to make value judgments. With regards to science, I do this by listening to respected scientists and reading scientific publications. Here the key is peer review.

In some other areas I am forced to use my common sense and I apply this to the subject of this thread - crop circles. I can only repeat what I said back in 2011:

Let's just weigh up the two arguments:

On the one hand, we have humans. They live here, they aren't necessarily drunk, some of them have admitted doing this in the past and even provided demonstrations of how they did it. Some of them have a history of just doing things for fun and because they enjoy playing pranks on other people. None of the designs that have been made are beyond the skill of one, two or more people to do.

On the other hand, we have aliens. They have come here from light-years away. They have identified the Earth as habitable from a vast distance. Despite being technologically advanced, they have chosen to communicate with us by destroying crops in a pattern fashion and they have travelled billions of miles to do this.

You judge.

Oh wow! Yeah, 11 yrs have changed my mind. I was more gullible those days. It's students, lol ... not spacemen

 

[THX1138]

Here is a link to a Crop Circle Location Map. There's bound to be a clue in all of this!
My theory is that the aliens choose grain fields is that after all that time traveling in space, they need a drink.
So, I feel that the real meaning of the crop circles is, "Bring us to your beer"...
I brew my own, and good thing I wear an Aluminum cone on my head when do so! They might find it...
2022 Crop Circle Location Map (brought to you by CropCirclesandMore.com)

 

[CupofJoe]

Here is a link to a Crop Circle Location Map. There's bound to be a clue in all of this!
My theory is that the aliens choose grain fields is that after all that time traveling in space, they need a drink.
So, I feel that the real meaning of the crop circles is, "Bring us to your beer"...
I brew my own, and good thing I wear an Aluminum cone on my head when do so! They might find it...
2022 Crop Circle Location Map (brought to you by CropCirclesandMore.com)

Some geographical profiling and we could find where the "humans" live...

 

[Phyrebrat]

For my sins I have a bit of experience in this ‘phenomena’. I’m typing this to remind myself to post here when I get back from screaming at children.

Hint: they’re all done by us. But…

 

[Elckerlyc]

... done compulsively while being remotely possessed by aliens?

 

[Dave]

Some geographical profiling and we could find where the "humans" live...

There does seem to be a strong correlation between crop circle sites and Stonehenge.
(but even if accurate, how comprehensive is that map? I'm sure there are more crop circles that those shown. Looks like cherry picking data to fit one's hypothesis.)
Which University? Bristol? Southampton?

11 yrs have changed my mind. I was more gullible those days. It's students, lol ... not spacemen

Actually, I'm more open to some conspiracy theories now. Maybe not quite up to giant Martian ants creating crop circles rather than students, however I seriously underestimated the number of clandestine government plans or elaborate murder plots (which I thought were merely the unhinged beliefs of a small number of paranoid idiots) but have now seem to have been proved actually to be true, but we can't discuss that more.

Mods: can you move this thread to the Games section?

Why the Games section?

Well, if it isn't a student game/prank then it is world/current affairs (which we don't do here anymore) or else it is humour. It certainly has little to do with Science or Nature if they are pranks. It's an old thread, but no religious discussion is allowed, even as humorous exam questions.

I suggest that we stick to those Science and Nature aspects of this thread and ignore the conspiracy theories if it isn't to be removed - the geographical, geometrical aspects of the circles, the use/misuse of data to prove theories. Enough has been said on the other aspects.

Creating these circles with wooden planks, poles and rope; managing a large number of other students (whether inebriated or sober) would be incredibly difficult - the logistics of getting people and equipment there and back again, early in the morning - not one person accidentally standing in the wrong place.

I have a bit of experience in this ‘phenomena’.

Spill the beans, old Bean!

 

[RJM Corbet]

I don't think there are going to be any physical aliens, in any form that we as carbon based life with limited carbon based natural senses could recognize. At the same time I think there is conscious life everywhere in the universe. I think the planets and the sun are living entities.

Life overflows any human ability to recognize it -- some inferior and some far superior to man. I don't think it's safe to make pronouncements and judgements about consciousness and the universe based on what we know now -- wonderful as that is.